what's most desired

your choices are not made out of true hope

that honour will be gained beyond despair

in this long war you're not that kind of dope

to think that outcomes must turn out quite fair

the action that you take is most precise

and never needs return for second slice

besides you know to go against the grain

would give us all some reason to complain

instead you give us all an even hand

you make things honest open just and plain

our wishes start and finish with our land

your kindness teaches us that we must cope

when we had thought the case was past repair

taking our feet up the long dismal slope

unto the place where the long view is clear

where vision serves in place of good advice

and we may learn just what is the true price

that we have paid for knowledge not arcane

given the sorrows of a long campaign

while you provide us with words soft and bland

and music of a gentle plaintive strain

our wishes start and finish with our land

your words inform that we are out of rope

and at cliff's edge looking out on the air

but you're not giving us lies or soft-soap

and we have had the full time to prepare

the options are no tossing of the dice

and all our preparations will suffice

you have not sent us out into the rain

uncovered nor need we ever explain

just why we have to make our final stand

for simple good that's not measured in gain

our wishes start and finish with our land

prince you announce our good you will attain

and all our enemies you shall constrain

such words are wondrous and such hopes are grand

but princes always were the people's bane

our wishes start and finish with our land